These excited pupils gave a warm welcome to two special parliamentary guests on Thursday.

Emmer Green Primary School opened its doors to Elizabeth Truss MP, the parliamentary under secretary of state for education, and Reading East MP Rob Wilson.

The visit to the school in Grove Road gave headteacher Tonia Crossman and special needs co-ordinator Heather Roberts the chance to grill Ms Truss on funding for pupils with additional needs.

Mrs Crossman said: “I did find the meeting useful as it gave us an opportunity to be heard.

“Funding calculations have changed and a school like ours came out as a significant loser.

“The local authority are aware of this and have agreed to look at the funding formulas so that schools like ours will hopefully not lose so much in the future.”

Reading’s lead councillor for education John Ennis explained the Government had changed how funding for children with additional needs is allocated.

“Previously, funding was allocated to each child following an assessment of their need. These national changes have an effect on all school community budgets with some going up and others going down without the actual pupils changing,” he said.

“Unfortunately schools like Emmer Green Primary, who have attracted a large number of additional needs pupils because of their inclusive and successful approach, have lost out.”

Mr Ennis went on to say that the council is to look again at how funding would be allocated for 2014/15, and that he was “looking forward to the long-awaited National Funding Formula which would bring budget consistency for all schools across the country”.

Mr Wilson said: “The minister was able to address the concerns of the leadership team at Emmer Green and there will be further correspondence between the school and the department for education.”